Dublin Core
Title
Oral History: Parth Thakkar
Subject
Oral Histories at Virginia Tech
Description
Parth Thakkar is a second-year graduate student in the Higher Education master’s program at Virginia Tech. He also works as a graduate assistant with the New Student and Family Programs (NSFP) organization. Thakkar arrived at Tech in the fall of 2018, and his experience has mostly been related to his studies and work with NSFP.
As a part of one of his classes, Thakkar and a team researched the effectiveness of the Da VInci and Curie Living-Learning communities in Lee Hall, a residence hall at Virginia Tech. Their assessment of the living-learning community is a part of determining whether these living-learning communities will make changes or receive more funding.
Another aspect of his life at Virginia Tech is his graduate assistantship with NSFP, where he helps with new students and families with their transition to Virginia Tech.
Finding the South Asian community at Virginia Tech smaller than he imagined, Thakkar described the feelings of isolation he felt as an Indian-American graduate student in particular. There are not many events and opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students from his community to come together, which is one reason why Thakkar spends more time with his cohort.
“Diversity-wise I would say, I mean I do see a lot of Indians,” Thakkar said. “I think that's like one of the highest groups of people besides white folks. But like I said, it's just, there are a lot of them who are undergrad, and the ones who are grad that I've met, are also in their own ... cohort, their own groups, that they hang out with.”
However, Thakkar said he has enjoyed his time thus far because he is able to diversify his experience –– and he believes there is a space for graduate and undergraduate South Asian students to come together regardless of age or cultural differences.
As a part of one of his classes, Thakkar and a team researched the effectiveness of the Da VInci and Curie Living-Learning communities in Lee Hall, a residence hall at Virginia Tech. Their assessment of the living-learning community is a part of determining whether these living-learning communities will make changes or receive more funding.
Another aspect of his life at Virginia Tech is his graduate assistantship with NSFP, where he helps with new students and families with their transition to Virginia Tech.
Finding the South Asian community at Virginia Tech smaller than he imagined, Thakkar described the feelings of isolation he felt as an Indian-American graduate student in particular. There are not many events and opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students from his community to come together, which is one reason why Thakkar spends more time with his cohort.
“Diversity-wise I would say, I mean I do see a lot of Indians,” Thakkar said. “I think that's like one of the highest groups of people besides white folks. But like I said, it's just, there are a lot of them who are undergrad, and the ones who are grad that I've met, are also in their own ... cohort, their own groups, that they hang out with.”
However, Thakkar said he has enjoyed his time thus far because he is able to diversify his experience –– and he believes there is a space for graduate and undergraduate South Asian students to come together regardless of age or cultural differences.
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Oral History Interview Item Type Metadata
Interviewee
Parth Thakkur
Interviewer
Tahreem Alam
Duration
42:28